Stay tuned for upcoming contests, one each month, here at Keen Tea Thyme! Winners will have a chance to score one of my Adagio signature blends, based on the month.
Also, we'll have a CelebriTEA posted in a few days, and more tea-related news, plus an exclusive look at a soap and beauty product company which uses tea as one of their ingredients!
Excitement abounds at Keen Tea Thyme! :)
Got a story idea? Submit it to me @ keenteathyme@gmail.com!
Happy Brewing!
8.12.2011
8.03.2011
Toasted Marshmallow Campfire Contest
August 30th is...National Toasted Marshmallow Day! As you may know, one of my Adagio signature blends is Toasted Marshmallow so I came up with another contest idea.
From now through August 23rd, submit your favorite campfire ghost stories for a chance to win one full-sized pouch of Toasted Marshmallow from Adagio along with FIVE (5) 1-ounce samples of ANY of my custom-made blends including:
-Pink Pearls
-Summer Sunshine
-Vampire Lemonade
-Peachy Keen
And others available on Adagio.com. I'll post a complete list of tea samples available closer to the date, so the winner will be able to pick from what is freshest and available.
How to Enter
1) Post your favorite campfire ghost story below or email me at keenteathyme@gmail.com.
2) I'll post all entries by August 25.
3) Then we'll vote on the favorites. YOUR vote will count!
4) The top three stories will be entered in the drawing for the tea. I'll select the winner using a random selection online tool.
5) I'll post the winning entry, as well as the selection of tea the winner from which the winner will choose.
So get in the "spirit" - brew a cuppa and think of your scariest, funniest, or most surprising ghost stories. One entry per person. Deadline is August 23 so get crackin'!
RealiTEA - Homemade Beauty Products
Lots of places sell tea-infused and inspired products for a variety of prices. But what if you have some tea leftover at home? (Come on, we all do, don't deny it.) Are there any recipes out there on how to whip up your own tea-infused beauty products?
Sure! For one thing, you can use tea leaves in soap making - the melt-and-pour kind. These kits are available at most craft stores. You basically chop off a few blocks from the sheet and melt them in the microwave, then add color and fragrance quickly, before the soap starts to harden. Pour the soap into a mold and voila! About.com recommends steeping the leaves BEFORE you add them to the mix, that way there is no "bleeding" and changing of the soap's color. Make sure you dry the leaves as well as you can before adding them to the mixture.
There's an old recipe I read years ago for a hair treatment using tea. Brew up one cup of chamomile tea (about 6-8 oz), using loose tea for the best results. Allow the tea to cool completely. Pour the tea into a reusable bottle, like those sold for travel purposes. Add high quality extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup per each cup of tea. Shake it up vigorously and store in your shower/tub. Then, before you wash your hair, apply a small amount (about the size of a quarter for medium-length hair) of the chamomile concoction to your hair. Leave on for about five minutes and rinse thoroughly. Then shampoo and condition as normal. Do this about once a week depending on hair type - if you have oily hair opt for twice a month, dry hair; try it twice a week. The bottle should last at least a month or so, depending on how often you use it. You can change it up with other teas too, of course: peppermint, or ginger peach, or whatever you prefer.
You can make a green tea face treatment too just by using green tea, fullers' earth and honey. That site also offers alternative for those of you with sensitive skin.
Here's a fun one: Cinnamon Tea for a Healthy Glow. The author uses tea and real cinnamon sticks, but I'm sure you could swap out the cinnamon tea for peppermint...and peppermint leaves if that's your preference.
And here's a recipe I found on Lipgloss Love Affair - the author is a huge fan of green tea and beauty products so this one is sure to be perfect for us tea fiends:
What you'll need
1 green tea bag or loose tea leaves
1/2 cup boiling water
1/4 cup Rose Water (available at Wholefoods or you can make your own by following these instructions)
Vitamin E Oil
Mini Spray Bottle
1 green tea bag or loose tea leaves
1/2 cup boiling water
1/4 cup Rose Water (available at Wholefoods or you can make your own by following these instructions)
Vitamin E Oil
Mini Spray Bottle
What to do:
1) Steep the tea in 1/2 cup boiling water.
2) Let the tea cool to room temperature.
3) Add the rose water. Rose water helps keep skin moisturized, fresh, and balances the pH.
4) Add a couple drops of Vitamin E Oil. Vitamin E Oil acts as an antioxidant which prevents the formation of free radicals on the skin and also has anti-inflammatory properties. In addition it prevents water loss from the skin and helps to retain its natural moisture.
5) Pour into spray bottle. Keep it in the fridge or carry it around in your purse!
6) Spray as needed for a refreshing mist!
1) Steep the tea in 1/2 cup boiling water.
2) Let the tea cool to room temperature.
3) Add the rose water. Rose water helps keep skin moisturized, fresh, and balances the pH.
4) Add a couple drops of Vitamin E Oil. Vitamin E Oil acts as an antioxidant which prevents the formation of free radicals on the skin and also has anti-inflammatory properties. In addition it prevents water loss from the skin and helps to retain its natural moisture.
5) Pour into spray bottle. Keep it in the fridge or carry it around in your purse!
6) Spray as needed for a refreshing mist!
Got any others? Submit your recipe for a tea-infused beauty product by emailing me, or post below.
RealiTEA - BeaTEAful products
Tea is becoming more popular than ever, as people turn to tea for more than just drinking. Tea is being used as an essential ingredient in everything from cookies to marinades, and everything in between.
Green Tea by Elizabeth Arden has been around since 1999 and is fairly popular, as it is intended to smell like green tea - a blend of peppermint, musk, amber and other notes - but the product doesn't actually list green tea, or any tea for that matter, as an ingredient. Bvlgari's Eau Parfumee Green Tea does list green tea leaves as one of the ingredients, but as with other prestigious beauty products, there's a higher price tag to match. Hey, if you want to treat yourself, be my guest. But for others - like me! - on a beauty budget, there must be some less expensive products using our favorite ingredient: tea.
Even beauty products are getting in on the buzz, adding tea in a variety of ways. Tea is added to facial products like Ole Henriksen's African Red Tea Facial Mist; Way of the Bath - Matcha Tea body soak and body lotion from Origins;
Green Tea by Elizabeth Arden has been around since 1999 and is fairly popular, as it is intended to smell like green tea - a blend of peppermint, musk, amber and other notes - but the product doesn't actually list green tea, or any tea for that matter, as an ingredient. Bvlgari's Eau Parfumee Green Tea does list green tea leaves as one of the ingredients, but as with other prestigious beauty products, there's a higher price tag to match. Hey, if you want to treat yourself, be my guest. But for others - like me! - on a beauty budget, there must be some less expensive products using our favorite ingredient: tea.
One of my favorite brands, Demeter, does offer a variety of tea-infused flavors, er, fragrances including Chai Tea, Earl Grey Tea, Green Tea and Chamomile Tea at more wallet-friendly prices. Try a frag out for $10 or splurge on a 4 oz version for $39.50. Plus Demeter sells matching body lotion and shower gels so you can layer accordingly.
Check out the ingredient list and you'll see black tea listed. Perfect!
Perfume is one thing but what about every day beauty products - for women and men? Like soap? And lotion?
I did a little research online and found some surprising results.
Kiehl's, a prestigious beauty company, sells a Yerba Mate Tea Toner, which is comprised of several natural ingredients including yerba mate extract. I couldn't find it on the regular Kiehl's site but you can get it on Amazon...for about $70. Yikes, I know!
Fresh sells a Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Cream for about $65. I've tried some Fresh products and I've been impressed, especially with how long their products last. (A sample of this I had lasted about a month, applying daily.) Sephora sells a great set of all the Fresh Black Tea Eye creams too.
A more budget-friendly solution is Korres, which happens to be one of my favorite beauty lines as well. Korres uses all natural ingredients and offers some vegan-friendly beauty options too. Korres sells a White Tea Facial Fluid Gel Cleanser for just over $20.
Check out this tea haven called Tracy Stern SalonTea. She sells tea, tea accessories, and an entire line of tea-infused beauty and bath products, all at salon - but reasonable - prices. Check out her travel kit to get a sampling of what wonders she works with tea. Tracy also offers a brick-and-mortar locale in NYC, and hosts afternoon teas and tea parties. Add that to your NYC To Visit List pronto!
There's another "scentsational" shop online for tea-infused beauty products including Strawberry Honey Tea Lip Balm and even Chai Tea soap: SCENTSational Soaps. This eco-friendly company offers vegan alternatives too.
You can also make your own tea-inspired beauty products. There's a wealth of ideas, recipes, tips and suggestions on making your own beauty products at home. Click here for more info, including a chance to submit your own recipes.
Got any other tea-infused and/or tea-inspired beauty products? Drop me a line or leave a comment below and I'll add 'em.
8.01.2011
VarieTEA kettle - Review
The VarieTEA tea kettle sold by Adagio.com allows water to be boiled as hot as the type of tea one is making. I ordered mine back in late spring, taking advantage of a special dollar off amount, and using up some of my gift certificate points for purchases and selling signature blends.
It is available for sale on Adagio.com, along with a 12-month warranty plan:
http://www.adagio.com/teaware/varieTEA_kettle.html?SID=0fc02aa8965eb87ef14312bd069a40e1
I received mine a few days ago and am in heaven! I love the variety (er, sorry, varieTEA) of teas I can make with this. I've used it on all settings, but since I prefer green tea - and typically that's all I drink in the summertime - that's the kind I've brewed most lately. I use the delicate setting for a lot of the caffeine-free teas, such as Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime line. I'm surprised at how much crisper a lot of the green teas are - I can actually taste the gunpowder green in the Mint Green Tea from Culinary Teas. Also, my Awakening blend from Adagio tastes much better; I can identify the light vanilla taste with mint.
There are some quirks; though nothing is as bad as others have reported (see the reviews from Adagio). I have to watch when I set the kettle back on the stand because the black tea "212" button will light up. I can just select another tea type or turn it off. Also, the "keep it warm" feature doesn't work too well... or at all. But since I would prefer reheating the water anyway, I don't mind. (Sometimes I'm not sure which tea I want to have next, so I like the option of changing my mind.)
The price is another downside. Since I got this on a sale and using gift certificates, I didn't worry about the price so much at the time. But I thought about getting this as a gift and I'm not sold on the price tag, with as many quirks as has been reported.
Readers, if any of you have purchased this kettle, what do you think? Is it better or worse than other varieties?
Stay tuned - I'll do a review after I've had this for a month to see it is still up to par.
LittleMewBrew - July 2011 CelebriTEA
Little Mew Brew AKA WifeyWoman
CelebriTEA ©: July 2011
Real Name: Courtney Powers
AKA: WifeyWoman & Little Mew Brew (Steepster/Twitter)
Blogs: Little Mew Brew: http://littlemewbrew.teatra.de/
The Many Tea Adventures of Wifey Woman http://wifeywoman.teatra.de/
Email: littlemewbrew@gmail.com
Courtney Powers, of upstate New York, loves to blog, but admitted she has a hard time keeping up with the writing. “Seriously there are probably 50 blogs I’ve started, sitting out there in cyberspace.”
But now that drinking tea has become an everyday part of her life, Courtney has blended her love of writing with her passion for tea.
Her tea blogs are in their infancies; both began in the spring of 2011 and her tea company, Little Mew Brew is brand new as well. But Courtney’s love of tea has been a part of her life since she was seven years old.
“My grandma would always visit us each summer from Florida and she drank tea with every meal,” Courtney explained. One morning young Courtney asked if she could join her grandmother, who served her tea chock full of milk and sweetener. A new tradition was born. “To this day when she visits or I visit her we always make time for tea,” Courtney said, adding that her grandmother prefers to use bagged teas while she opts for loose.
Her two blogs serve different purposes. The Many Tea Adventures of Wifey Woman explores tea tasting, reviewing and other tea-related adventures, while Little Mew Brew is aimed towards her business venture of the same name. That blog focuses on her journey into blending her own teas as well as buying experiences as she launches her company. “I hope that too will be a how-to guide for others looking to get into the wonderful business of tea,” Courtney added.
Of course she enjoys writing on both of the blogs. “I like writing the reviews on…Wifey Woman but I also like dropping in bits on my personal life and how tea fits into that life,” Courtney explained. She approaches the Little Mew Brew blog differently, however. “I like posting about my tea blending attempts. I keep it light and funny because that’s what it’s like for me.”
Courtney does take her tea blending seriously, but keeps the fun level high so she’ll continue to enjoy blending tea.
Her tea journeys have broadened her horizons, Courtney explained. “I used to like only herbal tisanes, but that got boring for me. So I branched out to good black teas.”
Her favorite teas don’t stop there though.
“I think each tea type holds a favorite for me,” Courtney said. “For example, I really enjoy a good Gunpowder Green. I’m also finding out that Earl Greys aren’t as scary as I once thought they were, nor oolongs.”
She credits the amazing online tea community, such as Steepster.com, for helping her along the way. “I’m really thankful for all the Steepster folks who have shared their knowledge and tea with me in the last five months.”
7.27.2011
Letting myself live
When I was a little girl - we're talking two, three - I used to trace letters out of books, trying to form words. I have a vivid memory of one kindergarten class in which I spent a good hour trying to figure out why the letters A, E, I, O and U were being displayed on a wall as being different. I remember sitting there in my little chair, studying the lines, trying to figure out what made them different. It drove me nuts! And then my kindergarten teacher told me they were vowels. And she showed me the first word I remember reading, understanding, the first word I looked at and new exactly what it was: zebra. (Sorry it's not something more profound.)
I loved figuring out word problems, if only to write the answers in complete sentences. (Math was not my forte.) I loved writing sentences. I loved the concept of taking a word from a vocab list and making my own decision, my own sentence - using the word, of course. I even loved diagraming sentences. I was the only student in my sixth grade class who properly diagramed The Pledge. (And boy was I picked on for it.)
My first "short" story was about a girl who wanted a dog and ended up with a cat, and something involving making a mud pie for her brother. I was seven.
I wrote my first novel, "On the Shores of Lake Niagara," when I was barely graduating elementary school. There was little plot, but lots of dialogue. And the first short story I wrote and was actually graded on was a story in sixth grade. I dedicated the book to my teacher, Ms. Watson, and "God, for giving me my talent to write." From that moment forward writing was all I ever wanted to do - and writing was my first love.
Ms. Watson told me I would be a great writer. It meant to the world to me that a teacher I admired (who was a published author) thought I would be great. Stories have always been inside me, waiting to get out, waiting for me to put pen to paper or keystrokes to my computer. She wasn't the last person to tell me that, either.
One of my favorite classes in college was creative writing, with a wonderful professor at Hood College. (Actually she, my journalism professor, and meeting my husband there are the best, if not only, things I liked about that school. But I digress.) She told me I had a terrific ear for how people speak. She loved the opening lines of my stories, which included, "I am the one to find her," and "She would be six this year." She told me that out of all the students she had ever taught up to that point, I was the one who would make it, be a real writer. She was slightly disappointed that I was a journalism major, but I kept telling her, that's just to pay the bills. I'll be one of the handful of writers who makes a true living writing. And I wanted that, I want that still.
But I wasn't realistic. I graduated from college and eventually took a job at a newspaper. I loved that job when I worked with Carol Blackburn, a terrific mentor, wonderful friend and the best editor anyone could ask for. Then someone else took over and the dream job became a nightmare. Plus, there were too many bills and not enough pay.
So I took a job working for the federal govt. I beat myself up for it, telling myself I sold my soul. Five years ago I took that job with the hope of spending more time to write creatively. I was doing this for the little girl who traced words out of books, who loved holding a pencil in her hands, who loved describing things, anything. For the high school student who won adult-aged poetry awards. For me.
But I haven't done anything. I've written, sure. I've got a young adult book series I'm working on. But I haven't taken the leap of true faith, of believing in myself, of trying to get something published.
I'm chicken. I'm terrified. What if all those people were wrong and I'm not good enough to make it? What if no one wants to read anything I publish and I fail? If I don't do anything, if I just keep writing and don't take that leap, my dreams will stay dreams...but they won't become nightmares of failures.
Well I'm done with all that. I'm 30. Everyday I find a way to write, I think of story ideas, I keep a little notebook in which I write down interesting people I meet, or something interesting I hear. (For example, I actually heard someone in a department store say to her friend, "She would have been ten this year." And a story was born.)
This is the year I go for it. This is year I take a gigantic leap. I hope I don't fail. I will myself not to fall, not to fail. But it's worth the risk, right? I had to have sold my soul for something.
There are so many stories inside me waiting to get out. Time to let them live.
I loved figuring out word problems, if only to write the answers in complete sentences. (Math was not my forte.) I loved writing sentences. I loved the concept of taking a word from a vocab list and making my own decision, my own sentence - using the word, of course. I even loved diagraming sentences. I was the only student in my sixth grade class who properly diagramed The Pledge. (And boy was I picked on for it.)
My first "short" story was about a girl who wanted a dog and ended up with a cat, and something involving making a mud pie for her brother. I was seven.
I wrote my first novel, "On the Shores of Lake Niagara," when I was barely graduating elementary school. There was little plot, but lots of dialogue. And the first short story I wrote and was actually graded on was a story in sixth grade. I dedicated the book to my teacher, Ms. Watson, and "God, for giving me my talent to write." From that moment forward writing was all I ever wanted to do - and writing was my first love.
Ms. Watson told me I would be a great writer. It meant to the world to me that a teacher I admired (who was a published author) thought I would be great. Stories have always been inside me, waiting to get out, waiting for me to put pen to paper or keystrokes to my computer. She wasn't the last person to tell me that, either.
One of my favorite classes in college was creative writing, with a wonderful professor at Hood College. (Actually she, my journalism professor, and meeting my husband there are the best, if not only, things I liked about that school. But I digress.) She told me I had a terrific ear for how people speak. She loved the opening lines of my stories, which included, "I am the one to find her," and "She would be six this year." She told me that out of all the students she had ever taught up to that point, I was the one who would make it, be a real writer. She was slightly disappointed that I was a journalism major, but I kept telling her, that's just to pay the bills. I'll be one of the handful of writers who makes a true living writing. And I wanted that, I want that still.
But I wasn't realistic. I graduated from college and eventually took a job at a newspaper. I loved that job when I worked with Carol Blackburn, a terrific mentor, wonderful friend and the best editor anyone could ask for. Then someone else took over and the dream job became a nightmare. Plus, there were too many bills and not enough pay.
So I took a job working for the federal govt. I beat myself up for it, telling myself I sold my soul. Five years ago I took that job with the hope of spending more time to write creatively. I was doing this for the little girl who traced words out of books, who loved holding a pencil in her hands, who loved describing things, anything. For the high school student who won adult-aged poetry awards. For me.
But I haven't done anything. I've written, sure. I've got a young adult book series I'm working on. But I haven't taken the leap of true faith, of believing in myself, of trying to get something published.
I'm chicken. I'm terrified. What if all those people were wrong and I'm not good enough to make it? What if no one wants to read anything I publish and I fail? If I don't do anything, if I just keep writing and don't take that leap, my dreams will stay dreams...but they won't become nightmares of failures.
Well I'm done with all that. I'm 30. Everyday I find a way to write, I think of story ideas, I keep a little notebook in which I write down interesting people I meet, or something interesting I hear. (For example, I actually heard someone in a department store say to her friend, "She would have been ten this year." And a story was born.)
This is the year I go for it. This is year I take a gigantic leap. I hope I don't fail. I will myself not to fall, not to fail. But it's worth the risk, right? I had to have sold my soul for something.
There are so many stories inside me waiting to get out. Time to let them live.
Calling All Iced Tea Drinkers!
OK, so here's the deal. For years I've made iced tea using the Sun Tea method, or those Cold Brew bags, or even the instant mix from Crystal Light, which I still use. (Yes, I know, powdered mixes and all that...but I'm addicted to the raspberry lemonade, and now the green tea peach/mango. It's so easy to use at work...and, OK, when I'm being lazy at home.)
But I got these great iced tea flavors from the wonderful Frank over at 52teas and I can't figure out the best way to brew them!
I don't want to waste the packet, considering it's one packet per gallon and kinda expensive - although totally worth it in quality. I want to brew this up right! And I'd love to figure this out while it's still summertime... ;) My experiments with this haven't been going so well and I'm getting frustrated. Darn it, I wanna try that Plum tea from Frank's line!
So what's the best way to brew? Do you start by brewing it up with hot water and then cooling with colder water? Or do you cold brew it, meaning use cold water to brew? (I do this myself with some of the green rooibos varieties, but I'm not sure how it would work on plain or black teas.)
Please dish all! How do you brew?
But I got these great iced tea flavors from the wonderful Frank over at 52teas and I can't figure out the best way to brew them!
I don't want to waste the packet, considering it's one packet per gallon and kinda expensive - although totally worth it in quality. I want to brew this up right! And I'd love to figure this out while it's still summertime... ;) My experiments with this haven't been going so well and I'm getting frustrated. Darn it, I wanna try that Plum tea from Frank's line!
So what's the best way to brew? Do you start by brewing it up with hot water and then cooling with colder water? Or do you cold brew it, meaning use cold water to brew? (I do this myself with some of the green rooibos varieties, but I'm not sure how it would work on plain or black teas.)
Please dish all! How do you brew?
7.20.2011
Joy's Teaspoon debuts summer teas
Joy's Teaspoon, a Las Vegas-based tea company, was the very first company profile on Keen Tea Thyme. The wonderful Naomi Rosen, owner, agreed to be interviewed for the company profile and even sent me some of her teas to sample - all while very, very pregnant! Now that's tea devotion. :)
She was also one of the first to respond to my call for help on a story about this year's World Tea Expo, which ended up not working out (my story, I mean; the expo went off without a hitch). Next year I'll try again, and see about getting in touch with the expo folks...
Anyhoo... I've always got a spot in my heart for Naomi & Joy's Teaspoon. This month she's debuting some new summer teas and helping out less fortunate children in Sri Lanka. How does she do it?!
Check out her story about meeting up with a woman named Kumari and her husband Sumedha, owners of the Morawaka Estate in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Morawaka Estate is a tea manufacturing company which produces some of the world's finest tea while employing thousands of local workers.
In Naomi's article, she discusses her first impression with Kumari and the terrific goodwill work the Morkawaka Estate does, not only for mankind but the world at large.
So she's helping out too - Joy's Teaspoon is offering two Morkawaka teas exclusively: Ceylon Morawaka OP1 and BOP1! (Click on the links to purchase.)
Other new teas available at Joy's Teaspoon include:
For more information about Joy's Teaspoon, visit the web site here or check out her blog, Joy's Jabberings. Her blog includes a journal from her experiences at the World Tea Expo!
She was also one of the first to respond to my call for help on a story about this year's World Tea Expo, which ended up not working out (my story, I mean; the expo went off without a hitch). Next year I'll try again, and see about getting in touch with the expo folks...
Anyhoo... I've always got a spot in my heart for Naomi & Joy's Teaspoon. This month she's debuting some new summer teas and helping out less fortunate children in Sri Lanka. How does she do it?!
Check out her story about meeting up with a woman named Kumari and her husband Sumedha, owners of the Morawaka Estate in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Morawaka Estate is a tea manufacturing company which produces some of the world's finest tea while employing thousands of local workers.
In Naomi's article, she discusses her first impression with Kumari and the terrific goodwill work the Morkawaka Estate does, not only for mankind but the world at large.
So she's helping out too - Joy's Teaspoon is offering two Morkawaka teas exclusively: Ceylon Morawaka OP1 and BOP1! (Click on the links to purchase.)
Other new teas available at Joy's Teaspoon include:
- Blue Beauty Oolong: a blend of licorice root and ginger
- Se Chung Oolong: a "colorful variety" of green, black and oolong teas with long-lasting infusability (Joy's Teaspoon recommends at least four infusions!)
For more information about Joy's Teaspoon, visit the web site here or check out her blog, Joy's Jabberings. Her blog includes a journal from her experiences at the World Tea Expo!
7.16.2011
LeviTea - tea time is fun time!
LeviTea
Another Keen Tea Thyme blog? Are you insane?
Yes, but in a good way. (and yes I'm answering my own questions but at least I'm not talking in the third person.)
I've decided to start selling my own custom blends on Tea Trade, with my new company name, LeviTea. The Web site is still a work in progress, but by the end of July you'll be able to purchase my own custom blends, and pre-order Ally's Adventures as a Teaist Apprentice. (Remember that story? That was partially stolen?) I'm still working on it and plan on publishing it in time for the holidays.
So, you can let me know if you want a copy of Ally's Adventures (no payment due yet, just need to know how many to order).
And you can start enjoying some of my custom blends. All orders from LeviTea will include a free sample of one of my Adagio blends, or another custom blend you'd like to try.
Each will be for sale in convenient 2 oz packages (larger pouches available for special order, eventually.)
This blog will still be rockin', tea fiends, so don't fret! I'll have a "Name My Custom Blend" contest, a special tea crossword puzzle, and coupon codes for my LeviTea site buried in different posts...so you'll have to read to find them!
Plus I'll have the usualsuspects posts that you've all grown to love. ;)
Got any suggestions? Want to preorder Ally now? (Remember no payment is due yet. I'll keep you posted on those deets.)
Got an idea for a custom blend? I'd love to hear it - as long as I don't have to compete with Frankof Oz, I mean Frank of 52 Teas. No one beats him! :)
Email away and keep on drinking tea! :) Happy Brewing!
Another Keen Tea Thyme blog? Are you insane?
Yes, but in a good way. (and yes I'm answering my own questions but at least I'm not talking in the third person.)
I've decided to start selling my own custom blends on Tea Trade, with my new company name, LeviTea. The Web site is still a work in progress, but by the end of July you'll be able to purchase my own custom blends, and pre-order Ally's Adventures as a Teaist Apprentice. (Remember that story? That was partially stolen?) I'm still working on it and plan on publishing it in time for the holidays.
So, you can let me know if you want a copy of Ally's Adventures (no payment due yet, just need to know how many to order).
And you can start enjoying some of my custom blends. All orders from LeviTea will include a free sample of one of my Adagio blends, or another custom blend you'd like to try.
Each will be for sale in convenient 2 oz packages (larger pouches available for special order, eventually.)
This blog will still be rockin', tea fiends, so don't fret! I'll have a "Name My Custom Blend" contest, a special tea crossword puzzle, and coupon codes for my LeviTea site buried in different posts...so you'll have to read to find them!
Plus I'll have the usual
Got any suggestions? Want to preorder Ally now? (Remember no payment is due yet. I'll keep you posted on those deets.)
Got an idea for a custom blend? I'd love to hear it - as long as I don't have to compete with Frank
Email away and keep on drinking tea! :) Happy Brewing!
7.14.2011
iHeartTeas.com - Kickoff Party through 7/18/11
Our good friend - and fellow tea fiend - has been making some changes to her online tea shop, iHeartTeas.com. To help celebrate the changes, Rachel is offering 20% off your order at iHeartTeas.com, through 7/18/11.
First, visit her site here: http://iheartteas.teatra.de/2011/07/iheartteas-kick-off-party/
Second, find the teas you'd like to purchase through that link only - her tiny.pay account will not accept the coupon code, nor the shopping cart so make sure you're in the right location - her blog marketplace.
Third, enter the coupon code "KickOff20" at checkout (minus the quotations, of course).
iHeartTeas sells a variety of tea selections: from Rescued from Retirement Teas (in association with 52 Teas) to handpicked sampler packs. Rachel has been one of the most successful tea sellers on Tea Trade, and is one of the most friendly people I know. So if you are having trouble entering the code or need any help, visit her Web site and drop her a line.
Let's help celebrate this new iHeartTeas initiative and score a great deal in the process! :)
First, visit her site here: http://iheartteas.teatra.de/2011/07/iheartteas-kick-off-party/
Second, find the teas you'd like to purchase through that link only - her tiny.pay account will not accept the coupon code, nor the shopping cart so make sure you're in the right location - her blog marketplace.
Third, enter the coupon code "KickOff20" at checkout (minus the quotations, of course).
iHeartTeas sells a variety of tea selections: from Rescued from Retirement Teas (in association with 52 Teas) to handpicked sampler packs. Rachel has been one of the most successful tea sellers on Tea Trade, and is one of the most friendly people I know. So if you are having trouble entering the code or need any help, visit her Web site and drop her a line.
Let's help celebrate this new iHeartTeas initiative and score a great deal in the process! :)
From Wegmans (Frederick) to Home: Blood Orange Star Fruit
From Wegmans to Home: The Tea Aisle at the new Frederick, MD, store offers up new tea varieties
Blood Orange Star Fruit Green Tea, Wellness Supplement by Celestial Seasonings (Bagged)
OK, this is my first attempt at this feature. I did ask for permission to use Wegmans' name on my blog and haven't heard back yet. But this feature isn't really about Wegmans, it's about the teas I'm discovering in the tea aisle there. (Also, my Frederick store lists "pop" instead of "soda"; I'm tickled!)
Found this gem during my inaugural trip there and have gotten at least two coworkers hooked on it. Oh, and I'm hooked as well.
http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/wellness-teas/blood-orange-star-fruit
This green tea is blood orange & citrus to the max. Actually it's more BLOOD ORANGE & STARFRUIT than Green Tea, if you know what I mean.
I've tried this cold brewed, loved it; blended it with some juice and loved it still. Tried it hot and was still in love. The only downside is that you can't resteep. But it's a bagged tea so it's not like I really expected to do that.
This is a green tea, so it does have some caffeine. But the punch of citrus-in-your-face is balanced by Rebiana (a sweetener from Stevia, which contains soy lecithin, according to the site). This tea is also 100% natural, and really does a body good. I did find like I had more energy after drinking two cups of it... placebo effect, perhaps, but it worked for me!
I love the deep, tangy tastes in this tea: sunshine in a cup. I drank it on a rainy day and swore there was a little ray of sunshine coming from my Fiestaware mug.
It is wonderful and refreshing. Iced, hot, even mixed with orange juice. I wonder what it would be like in a green tea based smoothie... If anyone tries it before me, lemme know!
Blood Orange Star Fruit Green Tea, Wellness Supplement by Celestial Seasonings (Bagged)
OK, this is my first attempt at this feature. I did ask for permission to use Wegmans' name on my blog and haven't heard back yet. But this feature isn't really about Wegmans, it's about the teas I'm discovering in the tea aisle there. (Also, my Frederick store lists "pop" instead of "soda"; I'm tickled!)
Found this gem during my inaugural trip there and have gotten at least two coworkers hooked on it. Oh, and I'm hooked as well.
http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/wellness-teas/blood-orange-star-fruit
This green tea is blood orange & citrus to the max. Actually it's more BLOOD ORANGE & STARFRUIT than Green Tea, if you know what I mean.
I've tried this cold brewed, loved it; blended it with some juice and loved it still. Tried it hot and was still in love. The only downside is that you can't resteep. But it's a bagged tea so it's not like I really expected to do that.
This is a green tea, so it does have some caffeine. But the punch of citrus-in-your-face is balanced by Rebiana (a sweetener from Stevia, which contains soy lecithin, according to the site). This tea is also 100% natural, and really does a body good. I did find like I had more energy after drinking two cups of it... placebo effect, perhaps, but it worked for me!
I love the deep, tangy tastes in this tea: sunshine in a cup. I drank it on a rainy day and swore there was a little ray of sunshine coming from my Fiestaware mug.
It is wonderful and refreshing. Iced, hot, even mixed with orange juice. I wonder what it would be like in a green tea based smoothie... If anyone tries it before me, lemme know!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)